SUSTAIN: Scaling Up STEM Talent from Africa in Europe
A market-led solution to the EU STEM labour gap
The SUSTAIN Europe project is an ambitious pilot to match high-potential Nigerian STEM graduates with legal, safe, and ethical work opportunities in Germany and Ireland. Funded by the European Commission through ICMPD, and led by Seefar, the project builds new migration pathways by aligning the needs of European employers with the skills of young Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad.
The project was secured and officially kicked off in December 2024.
The Challenge
Europe faces an unprecedented shortage of STEM workers, with over 320,000 unfilled roles in Germany alone, while only 32% of Nigerian STEM graduates find work in their field. This gap represents both a crisis and an opportunity.
Our Approach
Seefar bridges this gap by creating ethical, demand-driven legal migration pathways, placing Nigerian STEM talent with European employers while building talent pipelines, supporting returnees, and strengthening institutions on both sides.
Project Details
| Timeline | September 2024 – May 2027 |
| Countries | Nigeria, Ireland, Germany |
| Target Audience | Nigerian STEM graduates, European STEM employers, migration facilitators, and policy institutions |
| Beneficiaries Reached | 200 placed candidates; 500 workshop participants; 240 trained online; 30 trained facilitators |
How the Project Works
Why It Matters
Europe is facing an unprecedented shortage of STEM workers, while Nigeria produces thousands of highly qualified STEM graduates who struggle to find work in their field. SUSTAIN bridges this gap by offering pathways based on real employer demand, while also helping returnees reintegrate successfully.
In Nigeria, this means career growth, global exposure, and remittances. In Europe, it strengthens competitiveness and supports fair, ethical recruitment practices. The action also includes support for returning migrants, ensuring their skills benefit Nigeria's economy upon return.
"This is the future of legal migration: partnerships that respond to real employer needs while empowering young professionals in origin countries."
– Project Manager, SeefarThree Interconnected Goals
Pilot legal skilled migration pathways by placing 200 Nigerian STEM workers with European employers, including pre-departure training, visa support, and post-arrival onboarding.
Build talent pipelines by delivering career guidance and online training to over 500 Nigerian youth, many of whom may pursue migration later or strengthen Nigeria's STEM sectors.
Strengthen institutions by training regulators, facilitators, and private recruiters in Nigeria, Ireland, and Germany, and producing scalable tools and policy recommendations for other EU Talent Partnerships.
Promoting STEM Opportunities
SUSTAIN actively recruits Nigerian STEM professionals through targeted LinkedIn and social media campaigns, directly connecting qualified candidates with placement opportunities in Germany and Ireland.
SUSTAIN LinkedIn campaign promoting STEM career placement in Europe
SUSTAIN LinkedIn campaign linking Nigerian talent to STEM jobs in Germany and Ireland
"In recognition of EU skills shortages and in particular shortages in Ireland within STEM fields, as well as the project's potential to support the development goals of Nigeria via support for circular migration, poverty alleviation, and employment in Nigeria, the Department of Justice expresses its support for the SUSTAIN Europe project."
– Helen McEntee TD, Minister for Justice, Ireland"The project is also of particular interest for BMZ, as it aims at promoting sustainable partnerships for fair and ethical recruitment via the development of private sector cooperation with recruitment agencies and can generate valuable insights and lessons learnt in this regard."
– Stefanie Scharf, Head of Division, Policy issues of displacement and migration, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentKey Targets (2024–2027)
200 STEM workers placed in Germany and Ireland
240 Nigerians trained via online modules
30 migration coordinators trained in ethical certification and visa support
500+ young professionals attend career workshops
20 partnerships built between Nigerian facilitators and EU recruiters
80% of participants expected to report career advancement
1 major research report on employer and migrant outcomes
Policy tools and employer guides to expand legal migration models across Africa
Why SUSTAIN Matters for the Future of Legal Migration
SUSTAIN represents a significant evolution in Seefar's approach, moving from preventing harmful migration to actively creating safe, legal, and beneficial pathways. By anchoring the project in real employer demand, SUSTAIN ensures that placements are sustainable and that both workers and employers benefit from the partnership.
The project's focus on institution building – training recruiters, facilitators, and government officials in ethical practices – means that SUSTAIN's impact will extend far beyond the 200 placements it targets. The tools, guidelines, and partnerships it creates will serve as a replicable model for other EU Talent Partnerships across Africa.
By simultaneously supporting returnees and building Nigeria's STEM capacity, SUSTAIN embodies a circular migration model that benefits individuals, communities, and economies on both sides of the partnership.